Anchor

ABSTRACT

An anchor for ships and boats which upon lowering is partially embedded in the bottom of a body of water and is maintained in such position by the force applied by the water column bearing thereagainst.

United States atent 1191 Stevens Sept. 25, 1973 ANCHOR [56] References Cited [76] Inventor: Elbert M. Stevens, Box 157, Rt. 4, UNITED STATES PATENTS Medina, Tex. 78228 3,529,919 9/1970 Tiraspolsky et a1 1 14/206 R I 3,051,117 8/1962 Hunter 114/206 R [22] Wed 1971 3,411,473 11/1968 Mott et a1... 114/206 R 2 APPL 201 052 3,263,641 8/1966 Stimson 114/206 R Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 54,698, July 14, 1970, Pat. No. 3,682,125.

US. Cl 114/206 R Int. Cl B63b 21/24 Field of Search 1 14/206, 209, 207,

114/208, 230, 235 B, .5 R, .5 D, 50, 51,54; 248/206 R; 9/8 P, 8 R; 61/69 R, 69 A, 81, 82, 46.5

Primary ExaminerDuane A. Reger Assistant ExaminerGalen L. Barefoot Attorney-John C. Stahl [57] ABSTRACT An anchor for ships and boats which upon lowering is partially embedded in the bottom of a body of water and is maintained in such position by the force applied by the water column bearing thereagainst.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAFENTED 2 73 m 1 are FIG. I

ANCHOR The subject application is a division of application Ser. No. 54,698, filed July I4, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,682,125.

The present invention relates to an anchor to be lowered into a body of water to hold a ship or boat in position, and more particularly to such an anchor wherein the downward force applied thereagainst is a function of the surface area of such anchor and the water depth in which such anchor is utilized.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an anchoring device having a relatively large surface area.

Another object is to provide an anchor wherein the downward or anchoring force is applied by the water column bearing thereagainst.

A stll further object is to provide such an anchor which is light in weight, simple in construction, and easy to maintain in serviceable condition.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in extended condition, of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 in collapsed condition.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view showing a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the embodiment of FIG. 4 in collapsed condition.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the embodiment of FIG. 6 in collapsed condition.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a preferred embodiment of the anchor 10 of the subject invention. In such embodiment anchor 10 consists generally of a lower shaped member 11, an upper shaped member 12, and a flexible sleeve 13 secured to selected portions of members 11 and 12, respectively.

More particularly, lower shaped member 11 is of integral construction comprising a downwardly depending collar 14 desirably circular in horizontal section and of any desired diameter, said collar terminates upwardly in inwardly extending shoulder 15 with upstanding collar 16 desirably conforming in configuration to collar 14 and of reduced diameter.

Upper member 12 is of integral construction and comprises a flat upper surface 17 with a circumferentially and downwardly depending collar 18 conforming in shape and size to collar 16 heretofore mentioned. Normally closed valve 19 is secured in the approximate center of upper surface 17 and communicates with chamber 20 formed within members ll, 12 and sleeve 13. Cable 21 is connected to valve 19 whereby the said valve may be opened. An inverted, V-shaped bracket 22 is secured downwardly to the outer surface of collar 18 or upper surface 17 with anchor cable 23 conventionally secured to the said bracket.

Henceforth throughout the specification and claims the terms cable" and anchor cable" are used in a generic sense and include rope, chain, cable or other means by which the respective members of the several embodiments of the invention are remotely connected to a ship or boat.

Flexible sleeve 13 of desired length is composed of plastic, rubber or the like, each end of said sleeve is passed outwardly of collars 16 and 18 and secured thereto by means of bands or straps 24 such as are well known in the art.

A plurality of eyes 25 or other securing means are connected to upper surface 17 of member 12 or alternatively to the outer surface of collar 18; one end of each of a corresponding number of cables 26 are passed through a selected eye and conventionally secured thereto. In like manner, cooperating eyes 27 or other securing means on shoulder 15 or on the outer surface of collar 14 accommodate the remote ends of the said cables 26 which are conventionally secured thereto whereby the upper and lower members are maintained in spacedrelation when the anchor heretofore described is lowered or raised.

As shown in FIG. I of the drawings, anchor 10 is lowered by means of anchor cable 23; at such time lower member 11 is spaced downwardly of upper member 12 by means of cables 26 and sleeve 13 is extended. During descent, valve 19 is opened by cable 21 whereby all air within chamber 20 is bled or purged. When anchor 10 reaches the bottom, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the lower portion of collar 14 is partially embedded in the sand, mud or silt comprising the river or ocean bottom and sleeve 13 folds upon itself within the bore of collar 16 with the lower edge of collar 18 sup ported upon the upper edge of collar 16.

In such embodiment of the invention the weight of the water column acting upon surface 17 and shoulder 15 of the said anchor provides a downward force dependent upon the depth of the water. Additionally,

. wave or tide action causes a pulsating or pumping action upon anchor 10 whereby the said anchor is buried in the river or ocean bottom.

To raise anchor 10, the user first opens valve 19; an upward force applied to anchor cable 23 first raises member 12 after which cables 26 extend and lower,

member 11 is pulled out of the river or ocean bottom.

There is shown in FIG. 3 a flexible skirt 28 of desired composition which passes about collar 14 and terminates downwardly of the lower edge thereof; said skirt is secured in such position by means of band or strap 29. Such skirt in combination with the subject invention provides especially advantageous results when such anchor is used in a body of water having a bottom composed primarily of sand or pebbles in that a more effective seal is provided.

There is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings another embodiment of the subject invention. Anchor 30 comprises collar 31 which terminates upwardly in inwardly extending flange 32 or the like. Flexible diaphragm 33, made of a heavy rubber like material, is drawn taut and secured circumferentially to the outer surface of collar 31 by means of bands or straps 34.

. Normally closed valve 35 is secure to the approximate center of diaphragm 33 and communicates with chamber 36 formed within collar 31 and diaphragm 33. Cable 37 conventionally connects to valve 35 and permits opening the same.

Bracket 38 or the like is secured downardly to the outer surface of collar 31. Anchor cable 39 is conventionally secured to bracket 38 whereby the anchor thus formed may be lowered or raised.

During lowering operations, valve is first opened permitting air to bleed from chamber 36. After collar 31 is seated or embedded in the river or ocean bottom the said valve is permitted to close. As illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, at such time when collar 31 is seated or embedded in the river or ocean bottom and an upward force is applied to the anchor line, the weight of the water column acting on diaphragm 33 will provide a downward force on the anchor dependent on the depth of the water and the resiliency of the diaphragm. As heretofore described, tide and wave action causes a pumping action which additionally embeds collar 31 in the ocean bottom. It is understood that diaphragm 33 may extend downwardly of the lower edge of collaar 31 with cut outs (not shown) provided for securing brackets 38. Such construction provides a skirt similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

There is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 an anchor 40 constructed in accordance with the principles of the subject invention. More specifically, the marginal portions of diaphragm 41 of desired composition is passed between first and second concentric bands 42-43 and secured therebetween by rivets 44 or the like passed through such parts whereby chamber 45 is formed. Diaphragm 41 preferably terminates downwardly of the lower edge of bands 42,43; it is understood, however, that the lower edge of said diaphragm may terminate downwardly in the same approximate plane as the lower edge of the said bands.

Eyes 46 or other securing means are secured to the outer surface of band 42 and accommodate the remote ends of cable 47 or the like which are passed therethrough and secured. Anchor cable 48 is secured in a conventional manner to cable 47 whereby anchor 40 may be lowered or raised.

Normally closed valve 49 is secured in the approximate center of diaphragm 41 with cable 50 connected thereto whereby air may be purged from chamber 45 when the said valve is opened.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, bands 42,43 of the said anchor are embedded in the bottom of the river or the like. At such time, when bands 42 and 43 are seated or embedded in the river or ocean bottom and an upward force is applied to the anchor line, the weight of the water column acting on diaphragm 41 will provide a downward force on the anchor dependent on the depth of the water and the resiliency of the diaphragm until such time that valve 49 is opened and said anchor raised.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 anchor 51 comprises an essentially flat disc 52 of desired diameter with circumferential and downwardly depending collar 53. Eyes 54 or other securing means are provided on the upper surface of disc 52; the ends of cable 55 are passed through the respective eyes and conventionally secured. An anchor cable connects to cable 55.

Normally closed valve 56 is secured to disc 52 and communicates with chamber 57 formed by disc 52 and collar 53. Cable 58 or the like, connected to valve 56, permits opening thereof.

In the modification of FIG. 9, anchor 59 comprises disc 60 and downwardly depending collar 61 secured to the undersurface thereof wherein said collar is spaced inwardly of the circumferential edge of said disc. Normally closed valve 62 is secured to disc 60 and communicates with chamber 63 formed by disc 60 and collar 61; cable 64 connects to valve 62 whereby the same may be opened.

Securing means 65 are provided on disc 60 to which the remote ends of cable 66 are conventionally secured.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An anchor comprising an annular member including first and second openings, a flexible member secured to said annular member and forming a cover over said first opening, a chamber formed within said annular member and said flexible member which opens downwardly in said second opening of said annular member, a normally closed valve secured directly to said flexible member and communicating with said chamber, means connected to said valve to open the same, and means connected to said annular member whereby said anchor may be lowered and raised.

2. An anchor comprising first and second concentric bands each of which includes first and second openings, a flexible member secured between said first and second bands and forming a cover over said first opening of said second band whereby a chamber is formed between said second band and said flexible member which opens downwardly in said second opening of said second band, a normally closed valve directly on said flexible member and communicating with said chamber, means connected to said valve to open the same, and means on said first band whereby said anchor may be lowered and raised.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said flexible member terminates downwardly of said first and second bands. 

1. An anchor comprising an annular member including first and second openings, a flexible member secured to said annular member and forming a cover over said first opening, a chamber formed within said annular member and said flexible member which opens downwardly in said second oPening of said annular member, a normally closed valve secured directly to said flexible member and communicating with said chamber, means connected to said valve to open the same, and means connected to said annular member whereby said anchor may be lowered and raised.
 2. An anchor comprising first and second concentric bands each of which includes first and second openings, a flexible member secured between said first and second bands and forming a cover over said first opening of said second band whereby a chamber is formed between said second band and said flexible member which opens downwardly in said second opening of said second band, a normally closed valve directly on said flexible member and communicating with said chamber, means connected to said valve to open the same, and means on said first band whereby said anchor may be lowered and raised.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said flexible member terminates downwardly of said first and second bands. 